Abelard and Heloise ( Visit this link)
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This is the very best kind of love story. It's true, absolutely true, based on the passionate letters of the lovers themselves and an autobiography by Abelard. And the story is tragic, in the most intimate way you can imagine. At the height of their passion Abelard is castrated by Heloise's enraged uncle and relatives. Then, in his shame and horror, to add separation and waste to the recipe, Abelard orders Heloise into a nunnery, and becomes a monk himself.
Music By Ross Fiddes
Lyrics By Paul Kavanagh
Book/Libretto by: Paul Kavanagh
Produced by: Shakespeare et al
Directed by: Christiane O'Sullivan
Type of Musical: Hybrid opera - musical
Opened: 10 October 2002
Theatre: Christchurch Cathedral, Newcastle
# of Performances: 6
Licensing Agent: ross fiddes music
Synopsis
This is the very best kind of love story. It's true, absolutely true, based on the passionate letters of the lovers themselves and an autobiography by Abelard. And the story is tragic, in the most intimate way you can imagine. At the height of their passion Abelard is castrated by Heloise's enraged uncle and relatives. Then, in his shame and horror, to add separation and waste to the recipe, Abelard orders Heloise into a nunnery, and becomes a monk himself.
Song List
ACT 1 Scene 1 - The Marketplace
- Street cries -----Market Sellers 1 - 6.
- That’s the fruit Jongleurs -----Market Sellers, Chorus
- If I were a man (Recitative) -----Jongleurs, Heloise
- I’m a girl, curious -----Heloise
- Here are students -----Berengar, John, Guido, Geoffrey, Chorus
- Words -----Berengar, John, Guido, Geoffrey, Abelard, Heloise
- Here are students -----Reprise
- So, who are you? -----Abelard, Heloise
- I have seen (Recit) -----Abelard
- Here’s the fruit -----Alberic, Heloise
- It’s set master -----Drogo, Abelard
- Look from lashes -----Chorus
- Enough, Heloise -----Hirsinde, Heloise
- Vintage vino -----Three Jolly Monks
- Now be polite (Recit) -----Fulbert
- You should hear her -----Fulbert, Abelard, Hirsinde, Heloise
- Open Maria -----Drogo, Maria
- Raise the flare -----Alberic, Drogo
- Bright stars -----Alberic
- If I didn’t know better -----Fulbert, Heloise, Abelard, Hirsinde, Three Jolly Monks
- Maria, I’ve got it -----Drogo, Maria
- So that’s the man -----Hirsinde
- See how my hands quiver -----Heloise
- Master! Please forgive me (Recit) -----Heloise, Abelard
- Tell me then is it a sin -----Heloise, Abelard
- Am I late -----Berenger, John, Guido. Geoffrey
- I can’t believe -----Abelard, Heloise
- Do you call that academic? -----Fulbert, Heloise
- Spring has come -----Drogo, Maria
- I am sure -----Abelard
- What’s that moving in the shadows -----Abelard, Heloise
- Deep in the eyes of the virgin -----Chorus and soloists
ACT 2
Scene 1 - The square of the Canons.
- Gone -----Fulbert, Drogo, Alberic
- Now our Abbot’s gone away -----Three Jolly Monks & Washerwoman.(Vintage vino reprise)
- There is one thing -----Heloise
- I have nothing here -----Abelard, Heloise
- Quickly hide me -----Drogo, Maria, Guards
- Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison -----Chorus
- Become the Bride of Christ -----Abelard, Heloise, Alberic
- You are his Bride -----Abelard, Heloise
- Vocalise -----Hirsinde
- Even though he’s now an abbot -----Berengar, John, Guido,
- Geoffrey, Abelard, Townsfolk
- I gave myself to human loving -----Abelard
- Your book is all your love can offer -----Chorus
- This trial -----Abelard
- You stand charged here -----Alberic
- Burn your book now -----Chorus
- You write that you live in mortal danger -----Heloise
- There is one thing -----Heloise
- You are his bride -----Chorus
- But touch me, touch me ----Heloise
- The candle’s still burning -----Duet
- One day we made love -----Chorus
- You will never be dead to me -----Heloise
Awards & Nominations
CONDA (City of Newcastle Drama Award) 1997 for Outstanding Achievement in Newcastle Theatre for the initial workshop performance, CONDA 2002 Excellence in Professional Achievement.
“raves at its debut… a rapturous response… The libretto was one of the most impressive aspects… the accessibility of the music put it in company with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s work.” - From The Australian, 31 October 1997“Abelard and Heloise was staged in concert version but even in its unfinished state it is a remarkable and exciting work.” From CONDA Citation, 7 November 1997
“Composer Ross Fiddes and librettist Paul Kavanagh have turned a true love story from the 12th Century into a musical that should find a place in the 21st Century.” From CONDA Citation, 7 November 1997
“Fiddes’ music is melodic, testing for singers and rewarding for audiences, whilst Kavanagh’s writing delights with its wit.” From The Newcastle Herald, 13 October 1997
“Ross Fiddes’ music has a variety and beauty rarely found in contemporary musicals and Paul Kavanagh’s lyrics combine sparkling wit and heart-felt humanity.” From CONDA Citation, 7 November 1997
“It has taken five years for Abelard and Heloise to get a full theatrical production since its first exciting appearance in a workshop staging but the wait has been worth it.”
“Fiddes’ music is a remarkable mixture of styles, from the sweepingly romantic to jaunty jazz, and Kavanagh’s lyrics have wit and bite.”
“With 35 performers and an orchestra featuring 25 musicians the ……. score ……. has never sounded lovelier.”
“This is a fully sung musical in the style of Les Miserables but there is more variety in its music and words.” From The Newcastle Herald, 14 October 2002
“The current flavour of Abelard and Heloise is extraordinarily varied, ranging from operatic to near raucous……..I found Fiddes’ music most impressive when at its gentlest……..some of his lyrical outpourings both for orchestra and voice work extremely well….predictably, the lyrical passages for the lovers are very effective……..” From Opera Opera, November 2002
“….Fiddes has written a score which is packed full of passionate melodies. He demonstrates assured skills of orchestration.” From Music Forum, April 2005
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Added: Tue Apr 08 2008